Boehner: Pope’s Decision ‘Displays Extraordinary Humility and Love’

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to retire at age 85 showed “extraordinary humility.”

Boehner, a German-Irish Catholic with 11 siblings, issued a heartfelt statement after the announcement this morning.

“The prayers and gratitude of American Catholics are with Pope Benedict XVI today. The Holy Father’s decision displays extraordinary humility and love for the Church, two things that have been the hallmarks of his service,” Boehner said.

“Americans were inspired by his visit to the United States in 2008, and by his quiet, steady leadership of the Church in uncertain times,” he continued. “People of all nations have been blessed by the sacrifices he has made to sow the seeds of hope, justice, and compassion throughout the world in the name of Our Lord and Savior.”

“After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry,” Benedict said in his announcement.

There’s been no statement issued yet by President Obama or Vice President Joe Biden, who often speaks of being Catholic. There’s also no reaction yet from the State Department, which maintains an embassy at the Holy See and now is led by John Kerry, another Catholic.

UPDATE: From Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) — “Today Pope Benedict XVI displayed the qualities of an excellent leader and a true man of God by putting the interests of the Vatican and the Catholic Church over his own papacy. Since becoming Pope in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI has served the Church honorably, particularly through his work promoting charity across the globe. I wish him well in the future and, as a Catholic, I thank him for his service to God and the Church. I also look with optimism toward the future of the Catholic Church as it prepares to welcome a new leader and as it continues to spread God’s message of faith, hope and love to all the corners of the world.”

Bridget Johnson is a veteran journalist whose news articles and opinion columns have run in dozens of news outlets across the globe. Bridget first came to Washington to be online editor at The Hill, where she wrote The World from The Hill column on foreign policy. Previously she was an opinion writer and editorial board member at the Rocky Mountain News and nation/world news columnist at the Los Angeles Daily News.
She is an NPR contributor and has contributed to USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, National Review Online, Politico and more, and has myriad television and radio credits as a commentator. Bridget is Washington Editor for PJ Media.

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1.
rbj

“There’s been no statement issued yet by President Obama or Vice President Joe Biden, who often speaks of being Catholic. There’s also no reaction yet from the State Department, which maintains an embassy at the Holy See and now is led by John Kerry, another Catholic.”

Be fair. They are still figuring out their response to the attack on our consulate in Benghazi.

I wish John Boehner would show some “extraordinary humility” and resign. One of the individuals most responsible for fueling the growth of government and the destruction of our rights. I doubt he is going to remove himself and his clan from the government teat anytime soon.

Indeed. There were a lot of words in that speech his aids wrote for him that Boner didn’t understand. Humility, justice, compassion, conscience, all alien concepts to him. Extraordinary love he could understand since he has it, too: for power.

Yep, nothing but crickets. But, by Obama administration “standards”, this is an excellent response. No nitwit has yet come out and said something stupid and/or insulting about the Pope and Catholics. That counts as a “win” with the current junta.

If you want to know how Obama really feels about the Catholic Church–see CSPAn’s airing of the Alfred Smith Memorial Dinner back in 2008-CSPAN had the cameras on McCain and Obama prior to the formal speaking

Catholics believe that the Pope traces his authority back to the first Pope, St. Peter, who received it from God on earth, Jesus. With that authority, the church is guaranteed, by God, that the gates of hell would never prevail against it, in the continuing struggle of good against evil. Any one who can read, knows of the struggle. Any one who knows history, knows that a number of popes were rotten people. This is not a surprise, St. Augustine wrote, circa 400, that the church has two blocks in its organization chart: God, and flawed sinners.

The current pope, a frail book worm, gave everything he had to the crushing job. It normally kills the man who carries the burden of shepherding over 1 Billion Catholics. In his wisdom he is relinquishing his authority to another, because his physical condition no longer can sustain the workload. This took humility, wisdom and love, the seeking the good of another.

What is Benedict’s legacy? Let’s see. During his (short) papacy, Benedict advocated the following:

- Addressing climate change, calling on world leaders to “agree on a responsible, credible and supportive response to this worrisome and complex phenomenon, keeping in mind the needs of the poorest populations and of future generations.”
- A “fair”and “equitable” global economy: “…the economy cannot be measured only by maximization of profit but rather according to the common good…”
- Universal health care: Access to health care being an “inalienable right” and “justice in health care should be a priority of governments and international institutions”.
- Rights of immigrants, particularly in the US

Plus he continued to waffle on the scandal of child sexual abuse in the Church, slapped around American nuns for deviating from Church priorities, continued to speak against same sex relationships, etc.

A real mixed record I’d say. But I guess what is most important is who was first out of the gate to congratulate him on his retirement.

On climate chinage, keep in mind 2 things here. One the church is very mindful of not telling scientists how science is done (certianly not post 1500′s). So the Pope as voice of the Church is relying on good science. While they have a duty to make sure that they have that, it doens’t mean that it can’t be fooled by the loudest voices. And Second – although perhaps first – is that the Church takes the command in Geneis 2 and 3 for man to be stewards of creation as that, stewards, not owners and thus passing it on to the next generation, which if some of things climate change as claimed (falsly I might add) were true, such calls are appropriate. Indead a ‘responsible’ reply to climate change by world leaders could be a call to both follow climate changers or ignore them. After all, it is repsonsible to ignore those who are wrong.

The Church and Pope’s economic stances while sounding like communism isn’t. It isn’t a call for the gov’t to do something, but for each as individuals to.

This applies to healthcare, where in many areas (not the US) access is denied, not just ablity to pay, but out right access to any form of care. Again, the goal is that each individual helps his fellow, not from gov’t. I know the quote mentions justice in healthcare being a priority for gov’t. But Justice has a technical definition for the Pope and it means ‘giving to each his due.’ … What is due to each? and does he get it?

I’m not sure your point or his on immigrants, particuarly ones to the US. I mean are they not human? do they not deserve the respect of our fellow humanity?

Yes he continued to waffle on the child abuse scandle, part of that is the nature of a church that beleives in Subsidiary (and partly doesn’t have any means of enforcing punishments). Subsidiary is basically those closest to the people have the most power – and in that way is similar to federalism. I’m not sure about the nuns that you refer to, and as to same sex relationships, the Church has long held beliefs on this, which actually predate the Church (old testament).

Thanks for your thoughtful reply AC. I think that what this illustrates is that the tenure of Pope Benedict XVI (and the Church more generally) is mixed; neither the Right nor the Left can claim him or the Church for their own. Whether Boehner or Obama got the congratulations message out first is of no consequence.

Btw, the nuns I referred to are the LCWR, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the group that represents nuns throughout the US. For a really good overview from both sides, check out the NPR Fresh Air interviews from 18 July and 26 July 2012. They are available in itunes, no charge. They present both the perspectives of the nuns and the bishops, fascinating.

He did not “slap around” American nuns, as you so ignorantly claim. He demanded of their leadership an accountability that was long overdue, the American bishops having kicked that can down the road for way too long. The LCWR has been responsible for appalling deviations from the faith, and consequent damage to the faith of many. One need only look at the works of the keynote speakers of their recent annual chinwags to see this. The LCWR: putting the “coven” in “covenant” since 1970.

A good man who tried his best to guide the Catholic Church and its 1 Billion followers. He did it to the point that he resigned when he figured that his best won’t be good enough. Unfortunately, the general public only remembered him for his time in the Hitler youth, the fact that he was elected over a possible first black pope, and the the fact that he looked like the Emperor from Star Wars. *sigh*

Of COURSE, crickets from the White House,there ain’t any actual God fearing Christians in the place, just liberation theologists,whose beliefs depart widely from Biblical teachings.The last thing such people concern themselves with are black people who are actually Christians 7 days a week,ESPECIALLY conspicuous black Christian church officials.
I am dismayed at all the talk of a “first black pope”. I remember how excited the throw away media got at the naming of Desmond Tutu,the first black bishop of the Anglican faith,as I recall. And what a bitter disappointment HE turned out to be for those of us hoping for some strong,Christian leadership from him, just loads of racist, Leftist claptrap,worsening with time. Just the sort of person we have as our FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT!! Wanting some person of color, ANY person of color, to take a leadership position,SO badly that their qualifications, significant friendships,and background are totally ignored, is IRRATIONAL. It is a really STUPID idea to “prove we are not racist” by rushing to put black people,or any other people of color, in positions just BECAUSE they are black or otherwise of color. We AREN’T racist,we just want the BEST person as a leader,skin color or sex (male or female) being irrelevant,white,brown,plaid,it really doesn’t matter a particle. And it is also irrational for people of color to assume bigotry in ALL cases where white people are chosen instead of people of color. One’s skin color or nationality is of no great importance,and to go out into the world obsessed with seeing EVERYTHING and EVERYONE through the lens of your race or nationality is to blind yourself to a lot of very important stuff out there.